How do I compress and password protect a file in OS X?

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Level 2

416 points

How do I compress and password protect a file in OS X?

I NEED to compress and password protect files and get a TRUE original file when I un-encrypt. When I use Disk Utility I can create a compressed and encrypted Disk Image, but when I open the encrypted .dmg I get a mounted disk image not a TRUE file as I wish to have.

Is there some thing I've missed that allows me to compress and encrypt (password protect) the file and get an actual file, not a mounted disk image, when I un-encrypt like I can with Stuffit Deluxe?

I wish OS X's <Create Archive> let me compress and ENCRYPT (password protect) the file. An encrypted .zip file from the Finder would be a really good thing.

PowerBook G4 Ti 15" (400-MHz), Mac OS X (10.4.7), 1GB RAM, 80MB HD, AE, AEBS

Posted on Sep 23, 2006 10:54 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

ModiMac

Level 1

10 points

Sep 23, 2006 6:24 PM in response to niteowl

I'm not sure how comfortable you are with the command line, but there is an option for you in the "zip" command line tool. Unfortunately, the version of zip installed with 10.4.7 does not seem to support the encryption option. Fortunately, you can build and install the latest version which does support this option.

If you're still interested in this path then follow this link for instructions:

http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20050928160546665

800 Mhz PowerPC G4, 15" flat panel iMac Mac OS X (10.4.7)

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Answer 2

Joe Bailey

Level 6

12,227 points

Sep 23, 2006 7:09 PM in response to niteowl

Stuffit 11 came out this week and it will compress a file in almost any compression format you ever heard of and when opened the file will be a true file. It also offers file encryption for .zip and .sitx archives as well as self-expanding archives. FWIW I have no relationship with Stuffit or Allume Systems other than that of a long time satisfied customer.

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Answer 3

Mac-Medic

Level 6

17,301 points

Sep 23, 2006 7:25 PM in response to niteowl

Email me and I will send you an app that will work.

- Bmer
Mac Owners Support Group
Join Us @ MacOSG.com
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Answer 4

niteowl Author

Level 2

416 points

Sep 25, 2006 4:54 PM in response to Mac-Medic

Is ZIP proprietary or open-source software?

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Answer 5

ModiMac

Level 1

10 points

Sep 26, 2006 10:26 PM in response to niteowl

The ZIP format itself is open, but the tool you are using may be open or closed. For a comparison of the different free/commerical tools available, you can refer to:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparisonof_filearchivers

800 Mhz PowerPC G4, 15" flat panel iMac Mac OS X (10.4.7)

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Answer 6

niteowl Author

Level 2

416 points

Sep 27, 2006 6:38 AM in response to ModiMac

Can the ZIP tools used in the Mac OS's File Menu command be replaced in total by a ZIP version that Compresses and Encrypts/Decrypts?
[I'm looking to replace the ZIP within the OS, NOT have a separate application.]

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Answer 7

ModiMac

Level 1

10 points

Sep 27, 2006 6:48 PM in response to niteowl

The underlying tool that gets called when you select the File --> Create Archive menu is called BOMArchiveHelper and is located in /System/Library/CoreServices. You might be able to replace this tool with another tool and it may get called instead (I don't know for sure) but even if you managed to do this you still couldn't use the menu with a tool that requires a password because there is no facility in that menu to enter a password.

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Answer 8

niteowl Author

Level 2

416 points

Sep 27, 2006 7:33 PM in response to ModiMac

So if I find or write or maybe a kind programing genius writes a MOD of BOMArchiveHelper could I then use it to replace Apple's version of BOMArchiveHelper an get what I want?

As for the comment about the lack of an Encrypt command in the Menu, wouldn't the ability and command be part of the tool replacing Apple's BOMArchiveHelper and not need a Menu command?

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Answer 9

ModiMac

Level 1

10 points

Sep 28, 2006 9:49 PM in response to niteowl

I don't think it would be possible to ask for a password after the fact - BOMArchiveHelper seems to be set up to allow for no user interface.

This is what a user experienced when he tried to replace BOMArchiveHelper with zip. Here is the story:

http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20050928160546665

800 Mhz PowerPC G4, 15" flat panel iMac Mac OS X (10.4.7)

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Answer 10

niteowl Author

Level 2

416 points

Oct 1, 2006 9:18 AM in response to ModiMac

So if we want an "Encryption" feature in the <Create Archive> function, we basically need to beg, cajole, sacrifice rubber chickens, or whatever, to get Apple to include this in an update to the BOMArchiveHelper tool?

SO IF YOU'RE LISTENING APPLE, I PERSONALLY WILL SACRIFICE 69 RUBBER CHICKENS TO GET "ENCRYPTION" AS AN ADDED OPTION TO <CREATE ARCHIVE>. {;->

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Answer 11

Network 23

Level 6

12,333 points

Oct 1, 2006 9:26 AM in response to ModiMac

I'm not sure how comfortable you are with the command
line, but there is an option for you in the "zip"
command line tool.

Many command-line utilities have an easy GUI version written by some enterprising soul. Does anyone know of a freeware/shareware GUI version of this command line tool that has the encryption option?

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Answer 12

niteowl Author

Level 2

416 points

Nov 24, 2006 9:28 AM in response to niteowl

Though I haven't found a way to use Apple's GUI ZIP engine to ZIP & Encrypt, I have learned enough here to choose a third party solution; 7zX

Thanks all.

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